JULIAN ARAUJO is hoping to boost Celtic in the crucial campaign run-in with a league and Cup double at stake.
The popular Mexico international right-back has missed the last two games – 3-1 win over Motherwell and the dismal 2-0 loss at Dundee United – after returning to Bournemouth for treatment on a thigh injury.
Martin O’Neill admitted to being in the dark about the timeline for a return for Araujo, as CQN reported.
And the problems are now piling up for the No.2 spot with Colby Donovan, who has replaced the California-born defender, limping off at Tannadice and pulling out of the Scotland Under-21 squad for the Euro qualifiers against the Czech Republic tomorrow night and Portugal four days later.
There is also talk of a long-awaited return for Alistair Johnston, but Araujo has eased fears following a cryptic social media post earlier in the week.
FAN-TASTIC…Julian Araujo celebrates in front of the Celtic support after the 4-2 Scottish Cup penalty-kick shoot-out win at Ibrox.
The 24-year-old back-four operator posted an image on his Instagram page of him praying on the pitch, accompanied by a verse from the first book of the Bible from Genesis 19:17.
The caption read: “LO QUE DIOS DEJO ATRAS, NUNCA SERA MEJOR QUE LO QUE VIENE ADELANTE.”
The message translates as: “What God has left behind will never be better than what is coming ahead.”
Araujo has since added another picture on his page of himself on the pitch in Celtic kit with a sand timer emoji.
Hoops fans believe it is a sign the players will be back sooner than originally anticipated.
The adventurous full-back was a stand-out in the league and Scottish Cup encounters at Ibrox before sitting out the following two matches.
A fully-fit Araujo, already an instant hit with the Parkhead faithful following his dramatic stoppage-time winner over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park last month, will be welcomed back by O’Neill, his team-mates and the supporters with seven league games to play and, hopefully, two in the Scottish Cup.
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